اختلال خودزشت‌پنداری یا Dysmorphophobia یک نوع اختلال روانی است که در آن فرد به صورت غیرواقعی و اغراق‌آمیز نسبت به ظاهر یا ویژگی‌های جسمی خود احساس نارضایتی دارد. This disorder can have many negative effects on a person's quality of life and cause disruption in daily activities, social relationships and even mental health. People with this disorder may avoid the mirror or constantly compare their appearance with others. In this article, the symptoms, causes, methods of diagnosis and treatment of this disorder will be discussed.

What is self-loathing?

symptoms of self-loathing disorder

People with narcissistic disorder may experience the following symptoms:

• Constantly thinking about appearance: a person may devote most of his time to examining the appearance or a certain feature of his body.
• Mirror Avoidance: Avoiding looking at the mirror or conversely, constantly looking at the mirror to check for flaws.
• Increased social anxiety: feeling anxious in social situations due to worry about how to be seen.
• Dealing with negative emotions: feelings of hopelessness, anxiety, and depression caused by worrying about appearance.
• Frequent requests for physical changes: plastic surgeries or cosmetic treatments to correct supposed defects.

Read more: pessimism

causes of self-loathing disorder

The causes of self-loathing disorder may be a combination of genetic, psychological and environmental factors:

• Genetic factors: family history of mental disorders and genetic characteristics can make a person more susceptible to this disorder.
• Childhood experiences: Humiliation, criticism or negative experiences related to appearance during childhood can contribute to the formation of the disorder.
• The role of media and beauty standards: media advertisements and social pressure to have a certain appearance may cause such a disorder.
• Negative thoughts and self-criticism: tendency to negative thoughts and self-criticism can cause this disorder.

diagnosis of self-loathing disorder

The diagnosis of self-loathing disorder is made by a psychologist or psychiatrist using clinical interviews, psychological evaluations and examining the history of the disease. Also, the use of standard assessment tools such as questionnaires or specific scales can help in diagnosis.

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the effect of self-loathing disorder on one's life

Disorder of self-loathing can have deep and negative effects on different aspects of a person's life. These effects not only affect a person's mental and physical health, but can also affect their social relationships, job, and even their overall quality of life. Here are some of these effects:

• Disorder in social relations
  People with narcissistic disorder feel that others are focused on their appearance and for this reason they may avoid social situations or feel uncomfortable in groups. This social anxiety can lead to a person's isolation, because the person avoids establishing social relationships and participating in social activities. This social isolation can lead to problems such as depression, feelings of loneliness and reduced self-confidence.
  
• Decreasing the quality of life
  Continuous and negative thoughts about appearance can put pressure on a person's life emotionally and psychologically. A person may spend a lot of time examining their appearance defects or trying to change them. These concerns can somehow reduce the quality of life, because a person pays more attention to external issues than to more important and spiritual issues.
  
• Job and academic problems
  Disorder of self-loathing can reduce a person's self-confidence in work or study environments. Anxiety and appearance concerns may prevent a person from concentrating on work or school, and as a result, a person's performance in these areas may be impaired. Also, affected people may use less than their real abilities in their job or study situations.
  
• Physical and psychological problems
  In many cases, people with self-loathing disorder may seek cosmetic surgery or various medical treatments to correct their supposed appearance defects. These actions can be physically dangerous and sometimes cause side effects or permanent damage. Also, these actions may cause more negative psychological effects, because the person may continue to seek to complete their appearance changes and never feel completely satisfied.
  
• Increasing mental problems
  Self-loathing disorder is often associated with other mental disorders such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. A person may suffer from depression, anxiety or even eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa due to focusing too much on their appearance and the negative feelings associated with it. These disorders can have more negative effects on a person's mental health and lead to a cycle of emotional and behavioral problems.
  
• Self-acceptance and reduced self-esteem
  People with self-loathing disorder feel that their appearance is not good enough, and this reduces self-esteem and self-acceptance. This feeling of failure and inadequacy can lead to long-term psychological problems and prevent a person from truly understanding and accepting himself.

Which doctor should we refer to?

For the treatment of self-loathing disorder, referring to the psychology and psychiatry group of Mehrbad can be a suitable option. The psychologists and psychiatrists of this center are able to provide counseling and psychological and drug treatments to patients with mental disorders, including self-loathing.

Methods of treatment of self-loathing disorder

Treatment of self-loathing disorder includes a combination of psychological and drug treatments:

• Psychotherapy (CBT): Cognitive-behavioral therapy helps a person identify negative thoughts and wrong beliefs about their appearance and change them.
Medication: In some cases, taking antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications can help reduce symptoms.
• Group therapy and individual counseling: in these meetings, people can share their experiences and feelings with others and benefit from each other's support.

Conclusion